Tank cap



Sept. 20, 1932. V R FERGUSSQMN 1,878,687 I TANK CAP Filed April 25, 1931the tank, along in the course of the tank Patented Sept. 20, 1932 ALANR. rnneusson, or NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

TANK CAP Application filed April 25,

This invention relates to tank caps'or covers, particularly covers forthe filling spouts of gasoline tanks and the like.

The objects of the invention, in particular, are to provide. a practicaland inexpensive form of tank cap, which may be applied to the tank spoutatthe time of manufacture or assembly of the tank structure, or later,which will have a close fittingsealing connection with the tank, whichmay be quickly opened and closed, and without becoming detached or lostfrom the tank and which will be of attractive ornamental appearance andotherwise desirable.

The objects mentioned and others possibly equally desirable are attainedin this invention by the novel features of construction, combinationsand relations of parts hereinafter more particularly disclosed;

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrates certain practical embodiments of the invention and it willbe appreciated from these illustrations that the form of the inventionmay be further varied, all within the broad intent and scope of theclaims.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the cap construction; F ig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1,showing the cap as it appears mounted on the filling spout of anautomo-' bile tank; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view substantially as onthe plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of handlelever; Fig. 4 is a broken side view, illustrating in particular, amodified form of mounting ring for the cap;

In the first form of the invention, as exem plified in Figs. 1-, 2, 3,the cap structure is made up as a unit intended to be applied tomanufacture or assembly. A portion of the tank is indicated at'5, thisportion carrying the rigid filling spout 6.

1931. Serial No. 532,739.

The cap structure is rigidly and permanently attached to the spout by arigid sheet metal mounting ring 7 of inverted U-shaped cross section,with the inner wall 8 of such oross-section interlocked with theinterior of the spout and the outer wall 9 embracing the edge of thespout and forming the actual lip of the same.

In the illustration, the attachment of the mounting ring to the spout iseffected by swaging or spreading the inside Wall of the ring into anoutwardly beveled slightly undercut annular seat 10 formed in the mouthof the spout. This joint may be finished off by brazing, soldering,welding or the like, though the swaging action is usually sufficient topermanently anchor the ring to the spout- The cap, which is designated11, is shown as formed about the rim of the same with a series ofpartially detached dependent spring fingers 12, bowed to hook under thecurved outer portion 13 of the mounting ring. At one portion of the rimthe cap is extended in the form of a hood 14, overlying acorrespondingly projected hood portion 15 of the mounting ring and apivot pin 16 is passed through the dependent portions of these hoods tohingedly fix the cap on the mounting ring.

A coiled spring 17 engaged on the pivot pin and acting in oppositedirections against the hood portions of the cap and mounting ringrespectively, serves to throw the cover open when the holding fingers isovercome.

For releasing the cap, various handle means may be employed. Thus asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, a substantially straight handle lever 18 may beprovided pivoted at 19 on a lug 20, dependent from the mounting ring ata point substantially diametrically opposite the hinge, said leverhaving a generally cam shaped upper end 21 to engage a curved or camshaped dependent projection 22 on the grip of the spring rim of thecover. As the cam edge 21 of the lever extends to opposite sides of thepivot 19, it will be seen that the lever may be rocked in eitherdirection, that is, either up or down, to force the cover open againstthe holding tension of the spring fingers. To limit the throw of thelever, the latter is indicated as provided with a dependent and inwardlydirected lug 23, adapted to engage the lower edge of the This limits thethrow of the lever to a p0sition where the cam edge 22 of the cover, inthe closing movement of the cover, will rock the lever back to itsinitial position, Figs. 1 and 2, where it is then held by the capagainst any rattling movement.

Where there is insufficient space below the ';cap for the swinging ofthe hand lever, the *lever may as indicated at 18a in Fig. 3. Thisplacing of the handle is more accessible and in some respects moreconvenient for operation than the sidewise projection of the handlefirst disclosed.

When the device is used as a closure for gasolinetanks, it may besuitably vented, as indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, where asmall vent is shown at 2a in an annularly raised portion 25 .ot thecover, out of alignment with a small opening 26 in a similarly ribbedportion 27 of a washer 28 secured inside the cover by rivet 29. Thiswasher holds in place a gasket 30, which makes sealing engagement withthe lip portion of the mounting ring.

Another method of mounting the cap; is illustrated in Fig. 4;, where themounting ring is secured about the neck of the filling spout instead ofbeing seated over the end of the same. This mounting ring is indicatedasa split collar 31, having the break therein at the pivot lugs 32, thesebeingheld together by the pin 16 which forms the pivot mounting for thecap and the end of the spoutis shown as finished off by .a rounded beador flange 33, for engagement by the spring holding fingers or claws 12of the cover. Thus in this construction the cap makes sealing engagementdirectly with the end of the spout and the mounting ring serves as;a;sup= port rather than as a combined support and seat for the cap. I

The cover releasing lever in Fig. 4 difiers from the two previouslydescribed in that.

it is extended downwardly, instead of to one side or upwardly otherwisethe action of this lever, which is here designated 18?) is the same asthe levers previously described. The pivot pin ;19 of the lever is shownas having a seat at 34: in the neck of the spout, so as to hold'themountingring and cap against rotative movement draw the cap-down overthe rounded lip of the on the spout. The invention provides a.sim'ple,-inexpensive reliable and entlrely practical form of supportinglug 20.

be doubled upwardly upon itself.

as in Figs..2 and 3, but

closure, particularly for gasoline tanks and the like. The mounting ofthe closure as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4:, as a permanent fixture in the endof a filling spout is of considerable practical importance, particularlyin that it eliminates the need for providing an extra flange memberwithin this spout as has been necessary heretofore for the securing of aremovable closure cap.

In view of the fact that the invention has other uses than thosedescribed and is capable of modification in various respects, it shouldbe understood that the expressions employed herein are used in adescriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except for such possiblelimitations as may be required by the state of the prior art.

' What is claimed is:

g 1. In combination. with a filling spout of a tank, said spout havingan undercut shoulder in the mouth of the same, a mounting ring engagedover the edge of the fillingspout and having an inner wall set into theundercut shoulder to permanently secure said ringain posltlon on thespout, a cap hingedly mounted having the inner wall of the same securedin engagementw-iththe inner wall of the spout,

a cover hingedly mounted on said ring and having dependent springfingers yieldingly gripping the outer wall of said mounting r-mg. 3. Incombination with .a tank spout, a mounting ring of inverted -.U-shapedvcrosssection engaged over the end of the spoutand having the inner wallof the same secured in engagement with'the inner wallof the spout acover hingedly mountedon said ring, a cover opening lever pivoted ontheouter wall portion of the mounting ring and cooperating stop means onsaid lever and that portion .ot the mounting ring on which it issupported.

4:. In combination, rounded'lip with an externaliundercut peripheralportion and having the interiortot the sa'me unobstructed and with themouth portion of the same substantially of :as great external diameteras the rest of the spout, a

cap hinged at one side of said spout and bowed to engage over the outerundercut pea ripherall portion of the spout to yieldingly spout, ahandle associated with the cap for overcoming the cap closing force ofthespri'n-g a tank spout having'a:

' position forming a lip over the dependent spring fingers and a capopening spring for throwing the cap open when the grip of the springfingers is thus overcome.

5. In combination with a tank spout having an undercut shoulder in themouth of the same, a sheet metal mounting ring of inverted U-shapedcross-section seated over the mouth of the spout and having its insideportion displaced outwardly beneath the undercut shoulder in the mouthof the spout, said mounting ring having at the outside an undercutperipheral portion extending down over the spout and whereby said hollowmounting ring is rigidly and permanently secured in mouth of the tankspout and an external shoulder about the mouth of the spout, a caphaving a series of dependent spring fingers about the peripheral portionof the same and bowed to yieldingly grip down over the external shoulderof the hollow mounting ring and handle means for overcoming the capclosing force of said spring fingers.

6. In combination with a tank spout having an undercut shoulder in themouth of the same, a sheet metal mounting ring of inverted U-shapedcross-section seated over the mouth of the spout and having its insideportion displaced outwardly beneath the undercut shoulder in the mouthof the spout, said mounting ring having at the outside an undercutperipheral portion extending down over the spout and whereby said hollowmounting ring is rigidly and permanently secured in position forming alipover the mouth of the tank spout and an external shoulder about themouth of the spout, a cap having a series of dependent spring fingersabout the peripheral portion of the same and bowed to yieldingly gripdown over the external shoulder of the hollow mounting ring, handlemeans for overcoming the cap closing force of said spring fingers andhinge means permanently securing the cap in hinged connection with themounting ring.

7. In combination with a tank spout, a cap mounting ring mounted on saidspout, a cap hinged to said mounting ring and adapted to operateas aclosure for the spout, a series of fingers carried by the peripheralportion of the cap and formed to yieldingly grip the cap down over themouth of the spout, a cap releasing lever pivoted on M the mounting ringsubstantially opposite the hinge connection, a stop lug on said levercooperating with the mounting ring tolimit the throw of the lever to aposition Where it will be operatively engaged by the cap in the dos ingmovement of the cap and spring means for throwing the cover open whenthe cap closing grip of the spring fingers is overcome by operation ofsaid cap releasing lever.

8. In combination with a tank spout or the like, having an outwardlyrounded lip portion, a cap having a peripheral series of dependent bowedspring fingers for yielding engagement down over said rounded lipportion, a split ring engaged about the spout, a pin connecting theseparated ends of said split ring, the cap being pivotally engaged onsaid connecting pin, a cap opening spring also engaged on said pin forthrowing and holding the cap open when the cap closing tension of thebowed spring fingers is released and handle means opposite the hinge andspring mounting pin for enabling the overcoming of the spring closingforce of the bowed fingers of the cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix no signature.

' ALAN R. FERGfUSSON.

